Tournament A and Tournament B Format

Who is eligible for Tournament A?

Tournament A is open to two-player teams of any gender combination. Players must have a DUPR rating of 4.0 or higher.

The winning team will receive:

  • A $3,000 cash prize
  • Blenders sunglasses
  • A case of Fuego Hard Vodka-Infused Spicy Ginger Beer

Tournament A is winner-take-all.

Who is eligible for Tournament B?

Tournament B is open to two-player teams of any gender combination. Players must have a DUPR rating of 3.9 or lower.

The winning team will receive:

  • A $2,000 cash prize
  • Blenders sunglasses
  • A case of Fuego Hard Vodka-Infused Spicy Ginger Beer

Tournament B is winner-take-all.

How is a team’s tournament determined?

Tournament placement is based on the higher-rated player’s DUPR rating. For example, if one teammate has a 4.5 rating and the other has a 3.5 rating, the team must compete in Tournament A.

DUPR ratings will be verified for Tournament B to ensure fair competition. Any team found to have violated the eligibility requirements will forfeit its registration fee and any prizes awarded.

How does round-robin play work?

Each team will play approximately four to seven round-robin games, depending on the number of registered teams. The results will determine seeding for the single-elimination tournament bracket.

Each round-robin game:

  • Is limited to 12 minutes
  • Includes a two-minute warning
  • Is played to 11 points

If time expires before either team reaches 11 points, the score at the end of the 12-minute period will be recorded. If a point is in progress when time is called, teams should finish the point.

After each game, both teams must report the final score to their designated scorekeeper’s table, where they will receive information about their next match.

How is bracket seeding determined?

Teams will be seeded according to their round-robin win-loss records. If two or more teams have the same record, the tiebreaker will be the total number of points allowed during round-robin play. The team that allowed the fewest points will receive the higher seed.

How does single-elimination play work?

The bracket format will depend on the total number of registered teams. For example, in a 16-team bracket, the No. 1 seed will play the No. 16 seed, the No. 2 seed will play the No. 15 seed, and so on.

All single-elimination games, except the championship games, will:

  • Be limited to 12 minutes
  • Include a two-minute warning
  • Be played to 11 points

The Tournament A and Tournament B championship games will not be timed. Each championship will be played to 11 points, and the winning team must win by at least two points.

Pro Athlete and Celebrity Chef Format

How will the Pro Athlete and Celebrity Chef sessions work?

Participants in each category will have the opportunity to play with every pro athlete or celebrity chef in their designated session.

Play will follow a pickleball ladder format:

  • Winning teams move up one court.
  • Losing teams move down one court.
  • After moving, teams split and players change partners with participants on the new court.

Each game:

  • Is limited to 12 minutes
  • Includes a two-minute warning
  • Is played to 11 points

If time expires before a team reaches 11 points, the team with the higher score wins. If a point is in progress when time is called, players should finish the point.

If the score is tied after the final point, one additional point will be played using rally scoring. The winner of that point wins the game, regardless of which team served.

The session will run for two hours, from 11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m.

Recreational Player Format

How does recreational open play work?

Recreational players may participate in open play from 11:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. and may play as many games as availability allows. This flexible format also gives participants time to visit vendors and watch tournament, pro athlete, and celebrity chef matches.

To join a game, players will place their paddles in the designated queue area for their preferred court. The next team in the queue will challenge the winning team on that court.

Winning teams may remain on the court for a maximum of three consecutive games. All recreational games are played to 11 points.